BradfordToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). These letters were sent in response to Bradford council's decision to nix plans to host a massive Muslim conference.
I am writing to support the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at (AMJ) Canada’s application to host their annual Jalsa Salana conference in Bradford in 2025. The recent council decision to deny this application due to traffic and safety concerns is disappointing.
The Jalsa Salana promotes peace, understanding, and community cohesion, bringing together diverse backgrounds.
With proper planning and collaboration, the concerns can be addressed. Hosting this event would benefit Bradford economically and culturally, showcasing it as an inclusive community.
The local Ahmadiyya Muslim community has significantly contributed to Bradford through initiatives like the Run for Bradford, blood drives, highway clean-ups, and support for food banks, shelter homes, and schools.
I understand that concerns were raised about the event, but in my opinion, every large event faces challenges in its early stages.
Organizers learn from past experiences and improve future events accordingly. I am confident that if the town council were to allow the convention to proceed, the organizers would ensure that all necessary steps are taken to address any concerns.
I urge the council to reconsider and work with AMJ Canada to find a solution. I encourage residents to support this event for its positive impact on our community.
Farrakh Shoaib Awan
Bradford, Ont.
The above letter in its entirety was also sent in and signed by Bushra Daood of Barrie, Ont.
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I recently learned that the city council of Bradford has declined the application submitted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat (AMJ) to hold Jalsa Salana in 2025.
The primary reason cited for this decision was a potential delay in traffic, which would only be a matter of minutes.
This is surprising, considering that in the GTA and surrounding areas, we are accustomed to full road closures for extended periods due to various cultural festivals, sporting events, charity runs, and public parades.
AMJ has a longstanding record of contributing to society through initiatives such as blood drives, charity runs, food bank support, and humanitarian efforts led by Humanity First.
Last year’s Jalsa Salana in Bradford alone contributed millions of dollars to the local economy, with a significant portion benefiting the city itself.
Bradford had garnered a reputation for being a growing, inclusive, and welcoming city.
However, this recent decision may undermine the goodwill the city and its residents earned last year through their support of the Jalsa Salana event.
I kindly urge the council to reconsider its decision and embrace this noble initiative once again.
Doing so would not only reflect the inclusive values of the city but also reaffirm Bradford’s reputation for warmth and acceptance.
Haris Wadood
Vaughan, Ontario
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The decision to deny the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (AMC) to hold its annual convention next year on its own land in Bradford, by the Bradford city council is very regrettable and painful.
Since its establishment (over 55 years) in Canada, the AMC has been working extremely hard and consistently, in towns and cities across the country to build a better Canada. It has a track record of doing hundreds of charity events, blood donation clinics, multi-faith events to build bridges and many other social welfare programs for the society it lives in.
The words of former Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Stephen Harper praising the AMC's efforts towards peace and patriotism at the inauguration of its Calgary Mosque in 2008 are worth quoting here:
"Calgarians, Albertans and Canadians will see the moderate, benevolent face of Islam in this mosque and the people who worship here," the Prime Minister said. "They will see your love for Canada and your patriotism, and they will see that just as Ahmadis have embraced Canada, Canada has embraced you."
This shows how serious the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is working with the other groups, communities and individuals to bring a change to create a better Canada.
The decision of the city council was based on the traffic flow caused by the community's annual convention held in July this year for the first time in Bradford.
I have personally travelled on Hwy 400, hundreds of times and seen gridlock as far as the eye can see. That can happen due to multiple reasons ie. weather, population growth and accidents as well.
To make a case of traffic congestion in order to deny a very vibrant and hard working community to hold its prime event on a land that it owns is unthinkable.
Many times we have experienced, where for other local community events or marches / parades, many streets are blocked for hours in major cities across the country.
I strongly suggest that Bradford City's council should reconsider its decision and allow the AMC to hold its annual convention in Bradford next year.
Naseer Mirza
Brampton, Ont.
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I am writing in response to council’s decision on Sep 17, 2024 to refuse application of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at to hold their annual convention in Bradford, this has impacted the members of a peaceful community with the slogan, "love for all hatred for none."
The refusal to host a Muslim conference has indeed raised significant concerns, especially regarding issues of religious freedom, inclusivity, and discrimination.
Such actions can spark debates about whether venues or organizations are practicing exclusion based on religious grounds or security concerns, and whether this could infringe on the rights of communities to peacefully assemble and practice their beliefs.
From a broader perspective, such decisions may reflect growing tensions or misunderstandings in society, potentially fuelling Islamophobia or exacerbating divisions.
It's important for organizations and venues to carefully consider the legal and ethical implications of such refusals, ensuring they align with anti-discrimination laws and uphold the values of freedom of religion and expression.
Depending on the context of the specific refusal, civil rights groups, religious organizations, or governments may call for investigations to determine if the action is justified or discriminatory.
This also often sparks dialogue on how to foster better interfaith relations and protect religious freedoms in a diverse society.
Kashif Mahmood Danish
National Secretary (Properties)
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Canada
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